Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-26
BRIDGING THE MISSOURI.
The Iron Link Across the Missouri
River at Sioux City at Last
Supplied.
lsioux City special

The long talked-of bridge across the
Missouri River, at Sioux City, is at last
finally assured, and its immediate construc-
tion is practically settled. 1t is TO be built
by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway
Company, and it will not cost the taxpay-
ers of Sioux City q dollar. The contract
has been made and signed, and the work
is to be pushed forward to the speedi-
est possible completion. 1t is confidently
believed that the bridge will be COM
pleted within eighteen months. Repre-
sentatives of the Sioux City Bridge Com
pany were few days apo invited to a con-
ference in Chicago where an agreement for
the transfer of the bridge franchise was
entered into, mutually satisfactory to both
parties, and the details under that agree
ment are now so well advanced that it is
only question of few days until the me-
gotiations shall have been fully completed.
This involves consummation greatly
desired by this people. and the largest In
its material significance toward the future
Of Sioux City of any sing le achievement in
the history of the city. The Northwestern
Railway Company is the most powerful
corporation occupying the territory of this
Northwest. In the territory north of the
Platte and south of the Northern Pacific il
is king. 1t has established and is extending
lines radiating to the Missouri River on
this side, and from the Missouri
River on the other. The bridge means
that the Northwestern will focalize these
great interests here-that il will make
Sioux City its Missouri River hub. This
involves some change OF policy on the
part of the Northwestern Company, and
under this change of policy it is happily
found-happily for Sioux City, at least
that Sioux City's territorial interests and
the Northwestern's territorial interests are
twins; and 80 they have come together in
this bright May weather, in complete good
nature and temper, to say one to the other,
Shnkel And they shake. The bridge to
Sioux City, with the support IL has back of
it and for it, means the bridging Of the
only chasm that has stood in the way
OF anybodys confidence in Sioux City.
Work on the bridge is to begin just as
quick as the plans of the bridge can be ap-
proved by the Secretary Of War. The
plans have already been completed. They
have been examined and approved by
tue Missouri Pacific River Commis-
sion. 1t is expected TO have the
bridge ready for running trains in the
winter of 1688-S9. or course, there
may be unexpected difficulty in getting the
piers in, which are of unusual depth, etc.,
but, while this is barely possible, It is inn
probable. It will be what is commonly
known as high bridge-that is, bridge
without q draw, and so high as not TO
obstruct navigation. II will embrace
three spans. The cost is estimated at a
round million dollars.
A prominent citizen expresses the opin-
ion that the move of the Northwestern
Company in taking up the bridge build
ing project means two bridges for
Sioux City in very short time.
His idea is that the Northwest
ern people are working TO reach the Pacific
coast as soon as possible, and that the
Union Pacific will now rush line eastward
10 Sioux City, build another bridge, and
connect with the Illinois Central and the
eastern outlet.